BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 24th June 2024 : In a show of frustration and urgency, residents of Samarurpar village panchayat, located in the Chandipur block of Kailashahar, took to the streets on Monday afternoon, blocking a crucial dirt road. The road, which has been in disrepair since before 2018, has become a major obstacle for more than two hundred families who rely on it for daily transportation.
The road’s deteriorating condition exacerbates during even minor rainfall, rendering it slippery and impassable. Children struggle to attend school, and vehicles—both small and large—face difficulties navigating the treacherous path. Additionally, the local madrasa has been adversely affected due to disruptions caused by the road’s poor state.
Despite repeated written and verbal complaints to the local village panchayat and the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Chandipur, no action has been taken to address the road’s issues. Frustrated by the lack of response, the community decided to take matters into their own hands.
Chandipur Block Youth Congress President Nazrul Ali led the road blockade. Speaking to reporters during the protest, Ali expressed concern about the apathy shown by authorities. He accused the ruling party of neglecting local issues and using the upcoming panchayat polls as a political tool.
Upa-Pradhan of Samarurpar gram panchayat Dilip Das rushed to the scene upon hearing about the blockade. Addressing the media, Das clarified that the panchayat had made several attempts to repair the road in Ward No. 3. However, each effort had failed due to the road’s narrow width. To construct brick soling or a concrete-cement (CC) road, additional land is required, which the current road does not provide.
Das emphasized that panchayats cannot build roads without voluntary land contributions from the community. He refuted the allegations made by the blockaders, asserting that the concerned locals had never formally applied to the Gram Panchayat or the BDO for road construction.
Upa-Pradhan Dilip Das urged cooperation from all stakeholders. The Samarurpar Panchayat aims to improve all roads within its jurisdiction, but community involvement is essential for successful development.
